Hose coupling



Jn. 29, 1946. R. R. GuNbERsoN lHosF coUPLING Filed Sept. 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 29, 1946. R R GUNDERSON '2,393,679

HOSE COUPLING v Filed Sep.. 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pafemed Jan. 29, 1946 v HosE coUrLTNG Ralph a. Gunderson, cmcagn, 1u.

Application September 28, 1944, Serial No. 556,138

I (ol. 284-18) w 7 Claims.

This invention relates to coupler joints for hosesr and morerparticularlyto coupler joints which may be opened and closed without loss of liquid.

The primary object of the invention is to pro.

vide an improved coupling wherein the pressure of liquid or gas in the hose does not exert 'a' pressure which tends to open the coupling. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved coupler wherein the ports'` in the plug member and in the socket member are closed automatically when the plug is pulled out of thesocket. The coupler is particularly adapted for connecting the brake systems of a tractor truck to a trailer, and as the brake fluid is automatically trapped in each part when the coupling is opened.v

engine may be connected to the suction line i in the' trailer, by means of a suction hose coupling I 6, provided with a hand-operated cock i1. A

-storagetanki and booster I3 are connected to the suction-line I5 in such a way that if the hose i6 breaks or becomes disconnected, the brakes on the trailer will be' lset automatically in a known' manner. 'As the present invention is concerned primarily withth'e hose fi l, its terminal members and the` socket member Il), thev remainder of the system willfnot bedescribed, in detail.

'As shown in Figure 2, the hose ,it is provided on* its '-tractorend with a metal connector member 2t|-.whi ch' makes a threaded connection'iii no additional brake fluid is required 'in thetrac- .A

tor on disconnection at the coupler. I

A further object of the invention is'to provide a safety valve for the end of the hose, which will be closed automatically in the event that the hose `is broken, or the couplers on the 'hosevare ac.`

cidentally pulled apart. y e

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved socket member, which willautomatically bleed out any air that might be entrapped in the coupling while a connection is being made.

Another object of the invention ls to provide an improved socket member for a coupler, which will automatically connect the main conduit to a reservoir, when the plug member is discon' nected.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of a brake system oi. a tractor and trailer, utilizing the improved hose coupling; Fig. 2, a broken longitudinal sectional view of a hose equipped at each end with a coupling hose; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the plug member taken as indicated at line t-t oi Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional view of the socket member in closed position; and Fig. 5, a vertical sectional view of the socket member with the plug member inserted and iiuid communication established.

As the present invention is particularly' adapted to connect the brake system of trucks and trailers, the diagram oi such a system is shown in Fig. l. A section line 6 separates the tractor side at the left from the trailer side at the right. A. master cylinder l, actuated by a brake pedal t, is adapted to force brake fluid through a conduit 9 to the rear of the tractor. The trailer side has a socket connection ilLwhere connection may be established with the conduit 9, by vmeansvoi the coupling hose l l. the brake uid actuates the master cylinder i2, which may be equipped with a'suction booster i3. A suction line I 4 from the manifold of the tractor with thefconduit 9; `The Iconnector member it' affordsa 'seatttlfor a valvermer'nber 23, mounted, on thefendlp a 's'tid wirelil, whichjextends vthrough?theho`se and connector membersland` abutsA against the inside of the plug member, as shown atit. Aspring '2t is secured to the wire l di, and abuts against the'connector member 20,-.v

so as to urge the valve niember '23 toa closed position. 'This' closing action is opposed by com- A' pression on the wire by the plug member.` 1 v It will be understood, that ifthe hose Il I should be broken, or its connector members `pulled apart by accidental uncoupling of the trailer, the valve member 23 will close and-the brake system of the tractor will not be rendered ineffective through loss of brakeriiuid. In case of accidental uncoupling, the suction hose it would probably be bro-V kenat the same time, and this would set the brakes of thel trailer automatically. The brakes' of the trailer can also be set by the hand valve i9 in the truck.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the hose ill is provided at its rear end with a plug member tl,

having a rearwardly extending hollow shank' 2t, which is, closed at its rear end by a wall iid. The member 2li is provided with laterally extending ports 3d, which provide the only communication with the inside of the hose il. A sleeve member 3i is slidably mounted on the shank 2d, and is urged to its rearmost position, as illustrated at Fig. 2, by the compression spring 32. An out- I wardly extending flange on the front end of the It will be understood Vthat member di abuts against an inwardly extending fiange 33 on the member 2l, and limits the rearward travel of the sleeve. Suitable packing rings fait are provided., so that when the sleeve 3i is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the ports ttl are sealed. e

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the socket portion it of the coupling is secured to the frame it of the trailer by suitable rivets it. This unit has a cylinder 3l, which is of sumcient diameter to receive the plug member 2l.- The plug member may be provided with an annular groove 3B, to be vengaged by balls 39 locked in the position illuswardly by a compression spring 4l against a clamping ring 42.

A socket member 43 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 31, and its travel is limited by a stud screw 44 extending into a groove 45 provided in lthe periphery of the socket member. The socket The socket member has a bore so, of sufficient` diameter to receive the sleeve member 3 l and has a counter-bore 5I, to make a snug telescoping connection with the shank 28.

When the plug is disengaged, as indicated at Fig. 4, the bore 5I in the socket member is closed by a plunger member 52, which is urged forwardly by a compression spring 53 and hasl its travel limited by a stud screw 54. The cylinder 31 has a laterally extending port connected to the conduit 55, which leads to the master cylinder I2 of the trailer. On the top side of the cylinder 31 is a brake fluid reservoir 56, provided with a conventional filler cap 51. A port 58 in the bottom of the reservoir communicates with the conduit 55, when the socket member is disengaged'from the plug, as indicated in Fig. 4. This enables any air in the conduit 55 to escape into the reservoir, and keeps the conduit filled with brake uid. Another port 59 in the cylinder 31 communicates with the reservoir and the cylinder back of the socket member 43. This port prevents any pressure or suction from building up in the cylinder back of the socket' member, which might retard its travel. A plug 60 merely closes an opening in the top of the reservoir, which is needed to drill the port 58. Suitable packing rings 8| are provided, as indicated, to prevent leaking between the sliding parts, which must 'be kept :fluid tight.

When it is desired to make a coupling between the hose Il and the conduit 55, the locking ring 40 is pressed rearwardly, and the plug member is inserted and locked into the position shown in Fig. 5. In this operation, the end 29 of the plug member will press the plunger 52 rearwardly, and establish communication between the ports 3.0 and the groove 41 of the socket member, so that communication will be established to the conduit 55. At the same time,lthe end of the sleeve 3| will abut against the shoulder in the counter-bore 50,'

and will be pressed forwardly. lAt the same time, the socket member 43 will be pressed rearwardly, so as to close the port 58 to the reservoir 56. Communication is thus established without releasing entrapped iluid in either part of the coupler. y 1

It will be noted that in the' coupled position shown in Fig. 5, liquid pressure between the plug and socket member is in a lateral direction, and exerts no longitudinal force to open the connection. 'The only forces tending to open the connection are those exerted by the lightvcompression springs 32, 46 and 53, which are easily held by the spring locking device.

It will be understood that when the coupling is disconnected, the end of the plug member 21 will be enclosed by a suitable cap or hood (not shown), which may latch into the groove 38 and protect the end of the connector from injury and dirt. This member may be loosely attached by means of a. chain. In like manner, it is desirable to provide a plug to t into the front end of the cylinder 31, and prevent dirt from while it is disconnected.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only. and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for some modifications will. be obvious to those getting into the coupler skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

1. A coupling joint for a hose comprising: a plug member having a closed outer end and a laterally extending port. a sleeve member slidably mounted on said plug and adapted to open and close said port, a spring urging said sleeve member to closed position; and a socket member having an opening to receive said plug member and having a lateral portwhich communicates with the por't in the plug and is sealed ofi from communication with the outer end of the plug when said plug is in operating position in said socket.

2. A coupling Joint as speciiled in claim l, in which a plungeris slidably mounted for move- ,ment into the socket member to open and close y port, anda spring urging said the lateral socket plunger to closed position.

3. A coupling joint as specified in claim 1, in which the socket member is slidably mounted in a cylinder having a front laterally extending port y communicating with a reservoir and a rear port communicating with a conduit, said socket member being movable to positions Where the socket port will communicate'with the front or rear cylinder ports, and a spring urging said socket member to a position where said socket port will communicate with saidv front cylinder port.

4. A coupling joint for a hose comprising: a plug member having a closed outer end and a laterally extending port; and a socket member having a cylindrical opening to receive said plug and provided with an annular port to communicate with said port in the plug when the plug is inserted, a plunger slidably mounted for movement in the cylindrical opening in the socket member serving normally to close the annular port but open it after said plug has been inserted, anda spring urging said plunger to closed position. 5. A coupling joint as speciiied in claim 4, in which the socket member is slidably mounted in a cylinder having a y front laterally extending port connected to a reservoir and a rear laterally extending port connected to a conduit, a spring urging said socket member to a. position where its port communicates with said reservoir, and said socket member `being movable with the plug member to a position where the port in the plug member will communicate with said conduit.

6. In a hose provided with a connector member, a valve seat for the hose in said connector member, a stiff wire in said hose provided at one end with a valve member adapted to t into said seat and close the valve, a spring on said wire urging the valve member to closed position, and abutment means at the otherend of the hose adapted to engage the opposite end of the wire and normally hold said valve open.

7. Apparatus as speciiied in claim 6, in which the abutment means comprises a coupler secured to the hose, said coupler having a closed end to engage the end of the wire, and alateral port communicating with the inside of said hose.

` RALPH R. GUNDERSON. 

